Tablet bottle filling machine



April s, 1958 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL ,3

' I TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Ma 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG.

LVVENTURI HARRYE.ENGLESON ELMERllSRAMEK W ,mrl't ATT'YS April s, 1958Filed May 14, 1954 FIG. 2

H. E. ENGLESON El'AL TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 3aINVENTOR. v

HARRY Ev ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK A ril 8, 1958 H. E. ENGLE SON ETAL 2TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 14. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS A ril 8, 1958 H. E.ENGLESON ETAL 2,829,476

TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14, 1954 Ilf.

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6 INVENTOR." HARRY E'ENGLESON ELMER -D. SRAMEK ads/Amt W ATTYS A ril 8,1958 H. E. ENGLESON E'I'AL TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE '7'Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1954 INVENTOR. HARRY E ENGLESON ELMER D.SRAMEK I v I I I t r I; I ATT'YS A ril8, 1958 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL2,829,475

TABLET BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 14, 1954 N O KS E r Y 0 M TL MT N A T EG R A VN s 1 WE E. w W E R M A H E I VI Wwv BWHEN.) A? U 7 United States Patent TABLET norritn FILLING MACHINE HarryE. Engleson, Chicago, and Elmer D. 'Srameic, Cicero, Iii, assignors toF. B. Rerlington Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of DelawareApplication May 14, 1%4, Serial No. 429,733

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-159) This invention relates to an apparatus, or 'amachine, for arranging articles, such as tablets, along certainpredetermined paths for finally depositing the tablets in stackedrelation in bottles.

The machine, or apparatus, of the invention comprises in general thepositioning of tablets from a tablet making or forming machine to asingle broad conveyer means where the tablets are arranged to conveyingmeans, such as a pair of continuously operating belts, the tablets firstbeing arranged fiatwise in separate channels, which are so arranged andpositioned that several individual rows (for being shown) of tablets areconveyed from each of the two conveyers. Means are provided to allow butone tablet in each row or channel to pass through a guide to cause thetablets to be turned vertically on their ends or edges. During theconveying of the tablets from the pair of conveyers to the eight lineguides, certain jogging mechanism is provided to break up tablet jams toallow them to how, or be conveyed, freely into the several channels.This latter mechanism comprises endless belts arranged on opposite sidesof the conveyers and moving in a direction opposite to the direction ofmovement of the conveyers, there being certain jogger shoes whichvibrate the belts to assist in preventing the tablets from jamming,clogging or piling. Means are also provided for holding back rows oftablets and then releasing the foremost tablet of each row, one at atime, to permit the tablets to flow freely downward along the tabletperiphery or edge. The tablets are later gathered, one at a time fromeach row, in forward progressive movement until all tablets (eight beingshown) are brought into axial alinement by means of collectors, forprogressive insertion into a bottle. The bottles are fed to positionfirst in upstanding arrangement, and then tilted on their sides, wherethey are progressively filled one after the other and then pushed andguided in upstanding position, resting on their bottoms, for delivery toa bottle capping machine.

The primary object of the present invention consists in the provision ofnew and improved means for directly receiving tablets from a tabletpressing or forming machine and conveying the tablets to a plurality ofconveyers and then into a plurality of selective rows containing tabletsarranged fiatwise in a single line edge to edge. The tablets are latershifted from flatwise position to a vertical position standing on theirperipheral edges, for later gathering and inserting in stacked on edgerelation consecutively into bottles.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision ofescapement mechanism, or means, for holding a line of tablets inposition and then releasing one tablet at a time from each of severalrows, Where they are arranged into a gatherer or collector for shifting'a plurality of tablets sidewise, but on their edges, and in contactingrelationship for insertion into horizontally positioned bottles.

, Another object consists in the provision of new and improved means foreifecting a jogging or vibrating action along the sides of the conveyersso as to prevent jamming up or bridging of tablets, said means includingendless belts having their reaches adjacent the conveyor sides, thebelts moving in a direction opposite to the movement of the conveyers,the jogger element or means being arranged within the confines of theendless belts to break up tablet jams as the tablets move to single rowchannels.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of new andimproved means for progressively collecting or gathering a predeterminednumber of tablets for later arrangement in horizontal columnar form forinsertion into horizontally positioned bottles.

A still further object of the invention resides in collecting apredetermined number of tablets which are moving progressively forward,and inserting the said predetermined number of tablets into bottleswhich are being progressively moved, the same mechanism conveying aplurality of tablets also carrying the bottles into which the tabletsare to be inserted.

Still anotherobject of the invention resides in new and improved meansfor moving bottles along a predetermined path, and then later shiftingthe articles out of said predetermined path for conveying to a bottlecapper.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the specification which is to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment ofthe invention and the views therein are as follows: i t

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a tablet conveying and bottlefilling machine and embodying the present invention, the tablet formingor pressing machine not being specifically shown;

Fig. 2 is a detail top plan view of a part of the ma chine, the samebeing shown adjacent the tablet forming machine;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2' but showing a forward extension ofthe machine, including a part of the filling and bottling apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of certain operating parts of themachine, the view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of some of the structure disclosedin Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows 5.-5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the tablet separators orescapement gates in downward position;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2, and showingthe manner in which the first tablet separator or gate holds back acolumn of tablets in a channel, the second separator or gate being intablet released position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the manner in which thefirst tablet separator or gate is released while the other separator orgate holds back the columns of tablets;

Fig. 9 is a detail diagrammaticplan view of the struc ture disclosed inFig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a detail diagrammatic plan view of the structure disclosed inFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 11-41 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 1212 of Fig.2;

Fig. 13 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on the lines 13-43 ofFigs. 2 and 12; t

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view looking in the direction of thearrows 14-14 of Fig. 3 and showing certain of the structure for causingtablets to be progressively shifted from fiatwise position to on edgeposition;

Fig. 15 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on the line 15.-15ofFig. 3; i

Fig. 16 is a detail longitudinal view looking in the direction of thearrows 1616 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 1717 of Fig.16;

Fig. 18 is a .detail perspective view looking in the'direction of thearrows 18-18 of Fig. 3, and showing some of the mechanism for arrangingcolumns of tablets on end for insertion into bottles;

Fig. 19 is'anenlarged fragmentary perspective view showing theconstructionof one of the elements embodied inFig..l3,;i i v Fig. 20 isa detail transverse-sectional view on the line 2020 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 21 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 21-21 ofFig.20;

. Fig. 22 is 1a detail. transverse'sectional view on the. line 22-22 ofFig. 20; a

. Fig. 23 is a detail transversesectional view on the line 123--23 ofFig. ;.;and K Fig. 24 isa detail perspective view looking in the direction of the arrows 24-24- of Fig. 20.

The particular construction herein shown for the pur pose of.illustrating the present invention comprises an actual machine Which-isin operation for conveying and transporting tablets from v a tabletpressing or forming machine and finally inserting the tablets intocolumnar relationship, ejectingthe tablets for insertion into a bottlewhile the bottle lies on its side, and then shifting the bottleupwardly, all in a continuous operation.

A rotary tablet press, or forming machine, 1, Fig. 2, iorms tablets 2which pass along a pair of guideways 3, 3 leading from the machine 1 fordischarge onto a con. tinuously moving, relatively broad belt conveyor4.

The tablet press, or forming machine, forms tablets at a very rapidrateof speed, and has its drive independent of the drive of the rest ofthe conveying mechanism. The conveyers which receive the tablets arenormally designed to operate at a speed somewhat greater than the rateof delivery of tablets from the press. However, the conveying mechanismis such that the speed of travel may be reduced or retarded. The lengthof the conveyer from the point where tablets are first deposited on theconveyor to the point where the tablets are to be arranged in separaterows or channels is such that a backlog of tablets may be built up ifnecessary. However, when it is found that a backlog of tablets is beingbuilt up, that is arranged behind the channels, the conveyer speed maybe increased. This arrangement assures proper operation of the conveyerat all times, even though separate drive means are employed for thetablet press and the conveying mechanism.

The conveyer 4 is relatively short, terminating between a pair ofdelivery conveyers 5 and 6 which are mounted on the bottle fillingmachine frame 7.

A divider element 8, having a forwardly extending dividing guide 9, andhorizontally inclined side guides 10 and 11 is provided for guiding thetablets 2 to the conveyers 5 and 6, Fig. 2. The side guide 10 deflectsor guides certain of the tablets 2 from the single wide conveyer 4to-the conveyer 5, while the other side guide 11 guides or deflectsother tablets 2 from the wide conveyer 4 onto the conveyer 6. Thetablets 2 are thus conveyed along the conveyers 5 and 6 to certainguiding positions where they are to be arranged later in fiatwiseedge-toedge relation in single lines. There are five guideways for eachconveyer 5 and 6, but inasmuch as eight tablets only are to be bottled,one guide on each side is blocked off. Therefore, four guideways areshown in operation for the conveyer 5, and four such guideways for theconveyer 6. Brushes 12, 12 extend over and across each of the conveyers5 and 6 to keep the tablets 2 from piling up, and to brush off anytablet which may become stacked on top of another.

Side members are arranged at opposite sides of the conveyers 5 and 6,Fig. 2. The sideguides comprise a pair of endless belts 13, 13, for eachof the conveyers 5 and 6, there being a guide belt 13 on each side ofeach conveyer. Each guide belt 13 has its inside reach 14 facing theopposite side edges of each of the conveyers 5 and 6, the reach sides 14of the endless belts 13 moving in a direction reverse or opposite to thedirection of travel movement of the conveyers 5 and 6, thereby providingagitation for any tablets which may become assembled along the deliveryconveyers 5 and 6, and thus keep the tablets from jamming up orbridging. Also, to assist in keeping the tablets from jamming orlocking, agitator shoes 15, Figs. 2 and 4, are provided inwardly of eachi reach 14 of each belt 13; Each agitator shoe 15 is ar rangedimmediately preceding certain thin guide strips 16, Figs. 2, 11 and 12,which define separate channels 17 into which the tablets 2 are to bearranged in single lines and in edge-to-edge relation.

Holderarms ,or bars 18, Figs. 2, 11 and 13, extend downwardly from a topcross bar 19, being spaced above the top of the delivery conveyers 5 and6, and arranged between the guide strips 16 which define thetabletreceiving channels 17. The holder arms or bars 18, for eachdelivery conveyer, have their bottoms spaced from the top of theconveyers a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of atablet 2 to permit easy free passage of the tablets beneath the arms 18,but preventing the tablets from turning edgewise or canting, as well aspreventing the tablets from becoming stacked one upon the other.

These holder bars or arms 18 project forwardly a predetermined distanceto keep each tablet in its flat position, Fig. 12.

Operable means, Figs. 2 and 4- to 13, are provided to separate a leadingtablet 2 in each channel 17 from the next succeeding tablet of the samechannel so that only one tablet at a time from each row or channel willbe released. This operable means is located at a point just rearwardlyof the termination of the holder bars or arms 18, and comprises a firstseparator bar or gate 20 and a second separator bar or gate 21, Fig. 2.

The separator gate or bar 20, Figs. 2 and 4 to 13, extends completelyacross all the channels 17 of both of the conveyers 5 and 6, Fig. 2, andis adapted to be oscillated in a vertical arc, being pivotally mountedto a rigid side journal 22 by means of end studs 23, Fig. 5. The bar 20is operated by a vertically oscillating plate or member 24 engaging thetail piece 25 of the journal 22. The plate 24 raises the separator bar20 when the plate 24 rocks downwardly to push down on the tail piece 25.The separator bar 20 is provided with a plurality of downwardlyextending teeth 26, Fig. 5, there being two such teeth 26 projectinginto the path of tablets in each channel 17. The teeth 26 are arrangedadjacent the sides of each guide strip 16 of each channel 17. Theseteeth 26 are arranged relatively close to the guide strips 16 definingthe channels 17, so that when a tablet arrives at a predeterminedholding position, the teeth 26 will not strike and crush a tablet 2,because the teeth will be at each side of a tablet and at the forwardend thereof. When the separator bar 20 is raised to release a tablet,FigsLS to 8, the separator bar or gate 21 will move downwardly to holdthe released tablet. Thus, the forward edge of a tablet 2 in eachchannel 17 abuts against the teeth 26 and holds back the line of tabletsin each channel; but when the separator bar 20 is raised, one tabletonly will be released from each line, being engaged by a downwardlyextending tooth 27 on the holder gate or bar 21, Figs. 7 to 9. Theseparator bar 21 has one tooth for each channel 17, each tooth beingpositioned at one side of a tablet of each row so as not to strikeagainst the tablet.

The holder bar or gate 21 is also operated by the previously mentionedvertically reciprocating plate 24. The bar 21, Fig. 5, has arms 28 atits ends, and these arms are connected to end bearings 29, Fig. 5,freely mounted on :an oscillating or cross rock shaft 30. The

if; arms 28 rest on top of the plate 24 and cause the bar 21 to beraised when the plate 24 is raised. When the plate 24 moves downwardly,the bar 21 is allowed to drop by gravity. The downward movement of theplate 24 raises the separator bar 20 because of the pressure on the tailpiece 25. Therefore, when the bar 20 is raised, the bar 21 is loweredand vice versa, the separator bars 20 and 21 operating in proper timedrelation, up and down.

The oscillating or rock shaft 30, Figs. 2 and 5, operates the bars 2t)and 21 as the cross shaft 30 is rocked. This rocking of the cross shaft30 also operates the agitating shoes 15. Each shoe is pivotallyconnected on one end to a part of the base of the conveyor, and at its.forward end is pivotally connected to an arm 31 which in turn is pivotedto an arm of a bell crank 32,

the bell crank 32 being, pivoted at 33 to a part of the frame. The arm34, Fig. 4, of the bell crank 32 is pivotally connected to a link 35which is pivotally connected to a crank arm 36 fixed to the cross shaft30. The crank arm 36 is rocked by linkage 37, Figs. 2 and 4, from anoperating part 38 of the machine, and inasmuch as the crank arm is fixedto the shaft 30, the shaft 30 will be rocked and provide alternatevertical reciprocation of the separator bars and 21, as well asvibratory movement of the shoes 15. Vertical adjustment may be had ofthe separator arms 29 and 21, Figs. 5 and 6, by means of adjustingscrews 59, 39 cooperating with the oscillating plate 24. The rock shaft30, therefore, causes the arms 20 and 21 to be raised and lowered in avertical are, as well as causing lateral reciprocal movement of theagitating shoes 15 in a horizontal arc. Opposed shoes 15, one on eachside of the conveyors 5 and 6, are connected together by arms or links40, Fig. 4.

The first tablet 2 of each line in a channel 17, after being released bythe separator arm 21, is moved along flatwise by the conveyors 5 and 6,as shown in the upper part of Fig. 3, where they come into engagementwith cam bars or rods 41 arranged in each of the channels 17, Fig. 14.The cam bars 41 are relatively thick at their forward end, as indicatedat 42, to define relatively narrow spaced guideways 43, Figs. 3 and 14,whereby the tablets 2 are turned ninety degrees, lying edgewise insteadof fiatwise, being free to roll along their peripheries. The cam bars orrods 41 are relatively thin at their forward ends, as indicated at 44,Fig. 14, and then gradually thicken out and slope upwardly, as indicatedat 45', until they reach the full thickness 42, whereby the guideways orchannels 17 are progressively narrowed. Therefore, as the tablets firstcome into engagement with the relatively sharp noses 44 of the cammembers or rods 41, they will move from flatwise, position to verticaledgewise position, as shown in Fig. 14. The tablets are now in aposition to fall by gravity down an incline 4 6,Fig. l, and roll alongthe bottom bars of the relatively narrow guideways 43, converginginwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, where they fall into achute 47, which has its channels 43 arranged in parallelism.

The bars 41, Fig. 14, may be long, extending up to the chute 47, but itis desirable from a manufacturing and erecting standpoint that separatebars 41 be used, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The tablets 2 are arrangedon end in the guideways 43, being guided by the bars 41' resting onrelatively loose fitting bottom supporting bars, as shown in Figs. 16and 17. Inasmuch as the tablets may have rough edges, these bottom barsmay be agitated by an agitator plate which strikes the bottoms of thesebottom bars. The agitator plate is secured to .a round rod as shown inFigs. 16 and 17 being rotated by a part of the operating mechanism ofthe machine. Theagitatorplate moves the bottom tablet supportingbarsfrom the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig.17, because of the loose connections of thesebo'ttom bars. The tabletsupport bar is operated,

as shown in Fig. 17, to make tablets roll, and to shake powder from thetop surface of the bar.

The chute 47, Fig. 15, inclines downwardly relatively abruptly with atablet in each channel 43 arranged in side-by-side relation inrespective adjacent channels. The tablets fall downwardly in the chute4'7, which includes a bottom 43, a cover member 49, and side guidestrips 50 which form relatively narrow guide channels 51, Figs. 3, l5and 18'.

The guide strips 50 defining guide channels 51, Fig. 18, extendoutwardly a predetermined distance from the bottom of the chute 47proper, and are arranged in staggered or progressively lengthenedcondition, as clearly shown in Fig. 18. The tablets as they fall out ofthe chute 47, and being guided by the strips 55?, are received inconveyer buckets 52, one tablet from each guideway or channel 51. Thebuckets 52, Figs. 15 and 18, pass beneath the chute 4'7 and are receivedin semicircular recesses 53, Fig. 15. The buckets 52 are hingedlyconnected together on each side by operating chains. 54, Fig. 19, andare continuously moved forward along a predetermined path. The buckets,therefore in effect, comprise an endless conveyor which extends from thebottom of chute 47 toward discharge position.

Immediately forwardly of the discharge end of the chute 47 there is anoscillating or reciprocating arm 55, Fig. 15, which is arrangedimmediately forward of the inclined edge 56 of each bucket 52. This armreciprocates in proper timed relationship so that when a tablet 2 isarranged on edge in a groove 53 of a bucket 52 it will be prevented fromrebounding or tending to shift out of its groove 53. Were the arm 55 notused, tablets would carry along the inclined surfaces of the bucketunder the left hand guides 49 and be crushed. The arm 55 holds thetablets in line in the chute and prevents'such crushing. Theprogressively elongated dividing strips 50, as

shown in Fig. 18, each carry a tablet on end, and while the tablets arearranged on end and in side-by-side relation they are moved inwardly bya pusher arm 57, Fig. 18, which moves progressively at a given rate ofspeed. As soon as a tablet 2 from the last guideway' 51 (to the left,Fig. 18) reaches beyond the end of the last guide strip 50, all thetablets (eight being shown) will be arranged on end, and in sidecontacting relationship, ready for insertion into bottles 58, Figs. 3,18 and 20.

The bottles 58, Fig. 3, are conveyed from a suitable source of supplybeing moved into position by a transfer wheel 59, Fig. 3, where theywill be received consecutively into receiving openings between rigid.side members 60; the bottle receiving openings may comprise an integralpart of the buckets or holders $2, Fig. 19. The bottles 58 are deliveredin upstanding position from the transfer Wheel 59, having their bottomsresting on a suitable support and guided by a guide member 61., as shownin Fig. 3. A cam bar or rod 62 then causes the bottles 58 to be shiftedprogressively from upstanding position to a position on their sides,resting on a support for tilting them from the position shown at 63,Figs. 18 and 19, to a side position, as indicated at 64, Fig. l8, withthe open end of the bottle facing the plunger element 57.

Each bucket 52, Fig. 19, also includes a centering collar 65' having anopening 66, which corresponds with the bottle opening and is in directalinement therewith. Each bucket 52 includes the means for supportingthe tablets arranged side by side and resting on their ends, a plungerelement 57 for shifting stacked rows of tablets laterally along thegrooves 53, a centering collar 65 for the bottles 58, and a bottleconveying section All elements are movable at a predetermined correlatedrate of speed so that the rows of tablets in the grooves 53 may beejected and pushed progressively into the open ends of consecutivebottles, all in a continuous uninterrupted movement.

The outer surfaces of the centering collars 65 around the centralopenings 66 are relatively conical in shape,

and is free for horizontal slidable movement.

as indicated at 67, Figs. and 22. After the bottles 58 are arranged ontheir sides and forced into contacting engagement with the conical sideedges 67, being pressed, .Fig. 20, by springs 69, Fig. 3, each bottlewill be tightly clamped in proper position in a centering collar 65,with the opening 66 in proper direct alinement with a horizontal stackof tablets 2 for insertion in the opening of the bottle by the ejectoror pusher arms 57.

Each ejector arm or pushing rod 57, Fig. 19, is arranged between spacedfianges '70, 73 of the buckets 52 Each member 57, Figs. 19- and 20,carries a roller 71 near one end thereof, which roller is adapted tocontact with a stationary cam bar 72, Figs. 3, l8 and 20. The cam bar 72is of substantially the shape disclosed in Figs. 3 and 18, so thatduring movement of the conveying buckets 52 by the conveyor chains 54the rollers '71 will engage the cam bar 72 and push the arms 57inwardly. The shape, construction and angularity of the cam bar 72 issuch that it provides for the proper amount of. horizontal lateralmovement of the members 57 with respect to the centering collars 65.Therefore, one part of the bar 72 (the upper end, Figs. 3 and 18) causesthe pluugers 57 to beshifted progressively inwardly, while the centralor straight part maintains the plunger in non-movable position. Theother end of the bar 72 (at the lower end, Fig. 18) inclines rapidly toefiect faster movement of the plungers 57. The pushers or ejectors 5'7,Fig. 18, move inwardly and push the horizontally stacked row of tablets2 through the opening 66 in the centering collar, the end 73 of thepusher bars extending through the opening 66 and into the open end ofthe bottle to position the stack into the bottle, the bottle being of adiameter slightly greater, of course, than the diameter of the tabletsso that the tablets will be received within the bottle. The diameter or"the bottles, however, is still small enough to prevent any appreciablesideway shifting of the tablets within the bottle.

The ends of the pushers 73 bear against the tablets and thus push thebottles out of the buckets. The pusher or ejector elements 57 areprovided with a projection or lip 74, Fig. 24, to permit contact orengagement with the rim of the bottle at the bottle opening, in suchinstances where there are insufiicient tablets in the bottle, and thuspush the bottles out of the buckets. The centering collar 65 is providedwith a slot at the opening 66 to permit access of the lip 74 into andout of the collar.

immediately after the horizontally stacked tablets are received fullywith the bottle, a second cam bar 75; Figs. 3 and 13, arranged in properposition with respect to the cam bar 72., will cause the slide elements57 to be shifted outwardly to retract the plungers away from the bottlesand return them to original position. After the retraction of theplungers, the filled bottles will continue to move to dischargeposition, the bottles being caused to be turned to vertical position bycertain bar cams arranged beneath the filled bottles. The filled botties, in upright position, are adapted to be conveyed to dischargeposition to a bottle capping machine. The cam bar 75 is so constructedand operated that each member 57 will he slid back to original positionso that they will again engage the forward end of the cam bar 72 afterthe cycle is completed.

The particular construction of the bucket conveyor and the manner inwhich the bottles are shifted and the tablets are positioned into thebottles are disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application(case 140) assigned to the present assignee.

The operation of the various elements having been described throughoutthe specification, it is believed that further description of theoperation need not be made. The invention provides means operatingcontinuously from the time the tablets are made until they are put inChanges may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges.

as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invent-ion is claimed as follows:

1. An article filling machine comprising a movable conveyer receivingdisk-like articles as they are made, a plurality of conveyers to receivearticles from the first conveyer, said plurality of conveyors beingpositioned' parallel with and adjacent to the first conveyor, guidemeans to shift articles from the first conveyer to said plurality ofconveyers, means for arranging the articles fiatwise into separate rowsone behind the other, operable means holding back all articles in eachrow when said operable means is operated, and a second operable meansoperable in timed relation with said first named operable means torelease one article from each row simultaneously when said secondoperable means is operated.

2. A machine for packaging fiat disk-like articles in a receptaclecomprising a conveyer upon which articles are received on their fiatsides, a plurality of conveyers to receive the articles from the firstconveyer, said plurality of conveyors being positioned parallel with andadjacent to the first conveyor, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer to the plurality of conveyers, and means to turn saidarticles on their ends, said last named means comprising a plurality ofchannels into which the articles in each channel are arranged on theirsides, and cam bars in each channel to shift the articles from theirflat side position and arrange them on their peripheral edges.

3. A machine for packaging fiat disk-like articles in a receptaclecomprising a conveyer upon which articles are received on their fiatsides, a pair of conveyers to receive the articles from the firstconveyer, said pair of conveyors being positioned parallel to and onopposite sides of the first conveyor, guide means to guide articles fromthe first conveyer to the plurality of conveyers, means to turn saidarticles on their ends, and means to gather a plurality of articles inhorizontal stacked relation, said last named means comprising aplurality of buckets, means to deposit articles one at a time in eachbucket, and means to shift a row of articles in a bucket at right anglesto the directional movement of said conveyers.

4. A machine for packaging fiat disk-like articles in a receptaclecomprising a conveyer upon which articles are received on their fiatsides, a pair of conveyers to receive the articles from the firstconveyer, said pair of conveyors being positioned parallel to and onopposite sides of the first conveyor, guide means to guide articles fromthe first conveyer to the plurality of conveyers, means to turn saidarticles on their ends, means to gather a plurality of articles on theirends and arrange them in horizontal stacked relation, and movable meansto shift said articles in said stacked relation at right angles to thedirectional movement of the conveyers and deposit a horizontal stack ofarticles into a receptacle.

5. A machine for packaging flat articles in a receptacle comprising aconveyer upon which articles are received on their flat sides, a pair ofconveyers to receive the articles from the first conveyer, said pair ofconveyors being positioned parallel to and on opposite sides of thefirst conveyor, guide means to guide articles from the first conveyor tothe plurality of conveyers, means to turn said articles on their ends,means to gather a plurality of articles in horizontal stacked relation,means to deliver open ended receptacles to article receiving positionwith the receptacles lying on their sides, and means to shift articlesin said stacked position into said receptacles.

6. A machine for packaging flat articles in a receptacle comprising aconveyer upon which articles are received on their fiat sides, a pair ofconveyers to receive the articles from the first conveyer, said pair ofconyeyors being positioned parallel to and on opposite sides of thefirst conveyor, guide means to guide articles from the first conveyer tothe plurality of conveyers, means to turn said articles on their ends,means to gather a plurality of articles in horizontal stacked relation,means to deliver open ended receptacles to article receiving positionwith the receptacles lying on their sides, means to shift articles insaid stacked position into said receptacles while said stacks ofarticles and said receptacles are being conveyed, and means forshiftingsaid receptacles on their ends after the articles are receivedtherein.

7. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying fiatwise on theconveyer, a pair of moving conveyers receiving said articles fiatwisefrom the first conveyer, said pair of conveyors being positionedparallel to and on opposite sides of the first conveyor, guide means toguide articles from the first conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers,and guide means to guide articles on each of said latter conveyers intoseparate channels whereby tablets are conveyed in rows flatwise.

8. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means toguidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channelswhereby tablets are conveyed in rows fiatwise, and means to preventtablets on said latter conveyers from jamming up or bridging to permitthe tablets to feed properly into said separate channels, said lastnamed means comprising endless belts arranged on each side of each ofsaid plurality of conveyers, said endless belts having their innerreaches moving in a direction opposite to the directional movement ofthe prior named conveyers.

9. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacks.or groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying fiatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesfiatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles veyers into separate channels whereby tablets are .con veyed inrows flatwise, means to prevent tablets on said .on each of said latterconlatter conveyers from jamming and permit the tablets to be fedproperly into said separate channels, said last named means comprisingendless belts arranged on each side of each of said plurality ofconveyers, said endless belts having their inner reaches moving in adirection opposite to the directional movement of the prior namedconveyers, and vibrator means arranged adjacent said inner reaches ofthe belts to vibrate said belts.

10. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, and rigid bars positioned above10 said pluralityof conveyers in each channel to keep tablets fromshifting upwardly.

11. A-machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying fiatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwi'se from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles fromthe first conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means toguide articles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channel'swhereby tablets are conveyed in rows fiatwise, and separator barsmovable toward and away from said plurality of conveyers to hold backtablets in each channel and to release one tablet at a time fromfollowing tablets in each channel.

12. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groupscomprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets coutinuouslyfroma tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise'from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, separator bars movable toward andaway from said plurality of conveyers to hold back tablets in eachchannel and to release one tablet at a time from following tablets oneach channel, and means to shift said tablets from ilatwise position toa vertical position with the tablets standing on their peripheral edges.

13. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying fiatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articles fiat-Wise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from fiatwise position to a position standing on end, andgathering means to gather one tabiet from each channel and arrange themin separate guideways.

14. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying ilatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articles fiat-Wise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are con veyed in rows fiatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from fiatwise position to a position. standing on end, andgathering means to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange themin separate guideways, said gathering means including a divided chuteforming separate guideways into which articles standing on end arereceived.

15. A machine :for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine With the tablets lying-flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from flatwise position to a position standing on end, gatheringmeans to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange them inseparate guideways, and a moving bucket conveyer comprising a pluralityof movable connected buckets receiving one tablet: from each guideway.

16. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from flatwise position to a position standing on end, gatheringmeans to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange them inseparate guideways, a moving bucket conveyer comprising a plurality ofmovable connected buckets receiving one tablet from each guideway, andmeans for shifting said articles in each guideway into horizontallyarranged stacks.

17. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from flatwise position to a position standing on end, gatheringmeans to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange them inseparate guideways, a moving bucketv conveyer comprising a plurality ofmovable connected buckets receiving one tablet trom each guideway, meansfor shifting said articles in each guideway into horizontally arrangedstacks, and a plunger carried by each bucket and engaging a stack ofarticles for insertion into a receptacle.

18. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in stacksor groups comprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuouslyfrom a tablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on theconveyer, a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articlesflatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from thefirst conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guidearticles on each of said latter conveyers into separate channels wherebytablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in eachchannel from flatwise position to a position standing on end, gatheringmeans to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange them inseparate guideways, a moving bucket conveyer comprising a plurality ofmovable connected buckets receiving one tablet from each guideway, meansfor shifting said articles in each guideway into horizontally arrangedstacks, means for moving bottles at the same speed as the movement ofthe bucket conveyer, and plunger means carried by each bucket to pushstacks of articles consecutively into successively positioned movingbottles positioned on their sides.

19. A machine for conveying tablets and inserting the tablets in groupscomprising a moving conveyer receiving tablets continuously from atablet forming machine with the tablets lying flatwise on the conveyer,a plurality of moving conveyers receiving said articles flatwise fromthe 12 first conveyer, guide means to guide articles from the firstconveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guide means to guide articleson each of said latter conveyers into separate channels whereby tabletsare conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shift tablets in each channelfrom flatwise position to a vertical position standing on edge,gathering means to gather one tablet from each channel and arrange themin separate guideways, a moving bucket conveyer comprising a pluralityof movable connected buckets receiving one tablet from each guideway,means for shifting said articles in each guideway into horizontallyarranged stacks, means for moving bottles at the same speed as themovement of the bucket conveyer, plunger means carried by each bucket topush stacks of articles consecutively into successively positionedmoving bottles positioned on their sides, means to retract said plungersafter the bottles are filled, and means to shift said bottles to standvertically and resting on their bottoms.

20. A machine for receiving tablets from a tablet forming press anddelivering said tablets at a predetermined rate of speed, conveyingmechanism embodying drive mechanism normally movable at a rate of speedcapable of handling tablets faster than said rate of speed and adaptedto be reduced in speed to a rate slower than said rate of speedcomprising a tablet receiving conveyer upon which tablets are receivedfrom the machine flatwise, a plurality of moving conveyers receivingsaid articles flatwise from the first conveyer, guide means to guidearticles from the first conveyer onto said plurality of conveyers, guidemeans to guide articles on each of said latter conveyers into separatechannels whereby tablets are conveyed in rows flatwise, means to shifttablets in each channel from flatwise position to a vertical positionstanding on edge, gathering means to gather one tablet from each channeland arrange them in separate guideways, a moving bucket conveyercomprising a plurality of movable connected buckets receiving one tabletfrom each guideway, means for shifting said articles in each guidewayinto horizontally arranged stacks, means for moving bottles at the samespeed as the movement of the bucket conveyer, plunger means carried byeach bucket to push stacks of articles consecutively into successivelypositioned moving bottles positioned on their sides, means to retractsaid plungers after the bottles are filled, and means to shift saidbottles to stand vertically and resting on their bottoms.

References Cited in the file of this patent

